In 1880, Alexander Graham Bell provided the first proof of concept for free-space optics. Using his invention, dubbed the ‘photophone’, he proved that beams of light could carry voice conversation through free space, aka, the air. In 2019, Eindhoven start-up, Aircision, is ready to add their modifications to bring this technology into the future, specifically for the upcoming roll-out of 5G.

After the acquisition of his wireless tech start-up, Greenpeak Technologies, Dutch Wi-Fi pioneer, Cees Links, brings Qorvo a little taste of his own style. It’s not just engineering that this semicon giant is looking for, you’ll need to bring an affinity for commerce.

Especially in the embedded systems industry, the approach has traditionally been to build products that get worse over time. We design, manufacture and sell a product to the customer, it slowly deteriorates and then we sell the customer a new product several years later (see figure 1). Even though the next product will be better than the last one, in between purchases, the customer is experiencing a continuously deteriorating product value. Although this approach has been the norm for decades, it has several challenges associated with it. Many in industry are aware of these, but often view them as immuta

Background

Artificial intelligence is a popular topic these days. As companies are including it in their solutions and services, IT professionals are more likely to encounter AI and machine learning in their daily work and experience the challenges it brings. Derk-Jan de Grood and Rik Marselis wanted to take a deep dive in the topic and organized a whiteboard session to discuss AI and testing.

Interview

Charles Smit, recently installed as chairman of Business Cluster Semiconductors The Netherlands, hopes to make a clean sweep of Dutch high tech industry organizations and help make the Chip Integration Technology Centre a success.

Background

For technicians, communication can be likened to a black box. They know it’s important: once in a while, they have to deal with that dominant colleague or that coercive boss. But to get things done at their work, the logic of their story is of major importance. Jaco Friedrich, the trainer of soft skills and leadership at High Tech Institute, talks about the basics of communicating in the high tech working space.

You can turn writing secure code into a good habit. Something you barely stop to think about, like brushing your teeth or putting on your seat belt. High Tech Institute is working with the specialists at Hungary’s Cydrill to teach you how.

Although everyone talks about digitalization (software, data and AI) and the risk of disruption that this brings to companies, very few talk about how companies get disrupted in practice. Most treat it as an amorphous force that topples companies over like a force of nature that is unavoidable and where we are the victims. Of course, like you, I like to be in control of my own destiny and would like to better understand how digitalization causes such disruption in indus

Software is eating the world. Data is the new oil. Artificial intelligence replaces most jobs. Industry 4.0. The Internet of Things. 5G. Autonomous cars. It’s clear that digitalization (software, data and AI) is the main trend affecting the embedded systems industry across Europe and, in fact, the world. Whereas digital technologies used to be a minor, supporting part of the primarily mechanical and electronic systems that we built, these days, it’s the mechanics and electronics that have commoditized. Differentiation is defined by the software, data and intelligence in systems and by the implications of these technologies for individuals, companies and business ecosyst

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Bits&Chips focuses on news and trends in embedded systems, electronics, mechatronics and semiconductors. Our coverage revolves around the influence of technology.